The Advent wreath beautifully combines ancient symbolism (light in darkness, evergreens, circles) with a very modern 19th-century educational tool, turning the wait for Christmas into a visible journey from darkness toward the light of Christ. Advent comes from a Latin word meaning “a coming, approach, arrival.” Advent, which begins the new liturgical year, is a time of joy-filled anticipation. As Catholics, Advent reminds us that we are a people in darkness, awaiting the light of our Lord and Savior.
The history of the Advent Wreath:
The modern Advent wreath tradition began in 1839 in Hamburg, Germany. It was created by Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808–1881), a Protestant pastor and missionary who founded the Rauhes Haus (“Rough House”), a home for poor and orphaned children. During the dark December days, the children would constantly ask Wichern when Christmas would arrive.
To help them count the days and teach them about hopeful waiting, he built a large wooden ring (made from an old cartwheel) and placed candles on it, originally 19 small red candles (one for each weekday in December leading to Christmas) and 4 large white candles (one for each Sunday)
Every weekday, a small red candle was lit; every Sunday, a large white one was added. By Christmas Eve finally had all candles burning brightly.
This simple but powerful visual tool helped the children understand the passage of time and the growing light of Christ coming into the world. In the early 20th century, the custom spread throughout northern Germany and was simplified, so that by the 1920s–1930s, the wreath typically had only four candles (one for each Sunday of Advent), placed in a circular evergreen wreath.
The circle of evergreens came to symbolize eternal life (evergreens stay green year-round) and God’s unending love and, of course, the circle has no beginning or end.
The custom grew from Protestant northern Germany to Catholic southern Germany and Austria after World War I. In 1925, a Catholic parish in Cologne used an Advent wreath and in the 1930’s Munich, Catholic families widely adopted it. The Advent wreath became simplified to four candles in an evergreen wreath.
The Vatican officially recognized the Advent wreath in the 20th century; and it spread rapidly throughout the Catholic world after World War II, especially via German immigrants and returning soldiers coming to the U.S. Today it is used by Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, and many other Christian denominations.
There is great deal of symbolism in the Advent wreath:
A circular evergreen wreath symbolizes eternal life, God’s endless mercy, immortality of the soul
Four candles, signifying the light of Christ growing brighter
Three purple candles indicate Penitence, preparation, royalty (Christ the King)
One rose/pink candle for Joy (Gaudete Sunday – 3rd Sunday of Advent; “Rejoice!”)
An optional white center candle (Christ candle), it on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to represent Jesus, the Light of the World
Some traditions use four red or four white candles instead; symbolism varies slightly by region and denomination.
Today, the Advent Wreath is one of the most widely observed Christian traditions in Western Christianity